Lesson Theme: God is always with us.
Five-Day Lesson Pacing Guide
Note: This pacing guide suggests how to present the lesson over five days. Please adapt the lesson to suit your needs. Day 4
Day 1
Share Experiences
● Gathering Song ● “God’s Family” (CD-2, #16)
● Gathering Prayer (see page TG3-34)
● Activity ● Light helps us see.
● Story ● Annie and the Monster (page 2)
● Closing Prayer ● Loving God, help us to follow your rules and treat others with kindness. Amen. (Repeat.)
Day 2
Discover Gospel and Doctrine
● Gathering Prayer ● Loving God, help us to follow your rules and treat others with kindness. Amen. (Repeat.)
● Activity ● Parade of Light “Let’s Celebrate Now” (CD-2, #12)
● Gospel Ritual ● “Two Little Ears” (CD-1, #4)
● Activity ● Gospel Warm-Up
● Sunday Gospel ● Jesus is the Light of the World. (page 1)
● Closing Prayer ● Loving God, help us to turn to Jesus as our light and guide. Amen. (Repeat.)
Day 3
● Gathering Prayer ● Loving God, help us to turn to Jesus as our light and guide. Amen. (Repeat.)
Distribute the students’ What the Church Believes and Teaches handbooks. Turn to page 33.
● Activity ● Seeds Activity Book, Activity #2
● Closing Prayer ● Loving God, help us to grow closer to you through
the sacraments. Amen. (Repeat.)
Live the Gospel
● Gathering Prayer ● Loving God, help us to grow closer to you through the sacraments. Amen. (Repeat.)
● Activity ● Creative Drama
● Activity ● Thank you, God... (pages 3–4)
● Closing Prayer ● Loving God, help us to be willing to forgive and to
ask for forgiveness. Amen. (Repeat.)
Day 5
● Gathering Prayer ● Loving God, help us to be willing to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. Amen. (Repeat.)
● Weekly Review
● Closing Prayer (see page TG3-35)
● Closing Song ● “Let’s Celebrate Now” (CD-2, #12)
Friday Take-Home
Remind the students to share their lesson with their families and to do the Family Corner activities and prayer on pages 3–4 together.
Curriculum Connections
● ELA: Have the children complete the following sentence starter: “When I’m afraid, I __________.”They can add a drawing to their sentences.
● Sci: Part of being a Christian is showing God that we love God’s world. Discuss with the children some ways we can care for the earth. Have the children create a class book of ways to care for the earth.
Additional Resources
Extending the Lesson
Saints and Feast Days to Celebrate
● Weekly Review Template (gospelweeklies.com/catechists-teachers)
● Seasonal Resources (gospelweeklies.com/seasonal)
● Video Links: Go to gospelweeklies.com/blog to subscribe to GROW.
● Teaching Companion to WCBT Handbook (gospelweeklies.com/
catechists-teachers)
Catholic Identity Project of the Week
We all know that it is sometimes difficult to do what is right and good. Give a sticker to each child who does something good throughout the lesson. By the end of the class, each child should be recognized for something positive.
● March 15: Saint Louise de Marillac – Saint Vincent de Paul thought peasant women would best understand the needs of the poor. He sent Louise on missions, and she began to train women to serve the poor and sick. These Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul established 40 houses throughout France. Saint Louise is patron of social workers.
● March 17: Saint Patrick – Patrick served as a missionary in Ireland and is credited with converting the people from a Celtic religion to Christianity. In the dioceses of Ireland, this day is celebrated as a solemnity and a holy day of obligation. Along with Saints Brigid of Kildare and Columba, Patrick is the patron of Ireland.
Unit 3: Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him ● TG3-33